12 Weeks!

Your pregnancy: 12 weeks
How your baby's growing:The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)Note: Every baby develops a little differently, even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:Your uterus has grown to the point where your healthcare provider can now feel the top of it (the fundus) low in your abdomen, just above your pubic bone. You may already be into maternity clothes, especially if this isn't your first pregnancy. If you're still fairly small and not yet ready for maternity clothes, you've no doubt noticed that your waist is thickening and that you're more comfortable in loose, less restrictive clothing.
Thanks to my wonderful friend Amy who is learning to do ultrasounds herself I got to go and see our little baby today and get some pictures taken. It was SO FUN!!!! Our little one is measuring at 13 weeks 1 day, which makes me happy to hear it is growing well and is healthy since is is measuring a week older than we thought it was! I got to hear the heartbeat for the very first time today and WOW!!!! Boy does that make it so much more real!!! So amazing to hear that and know that something is really living and growing inside of you! For all of you that want to know it was 162 beats per minute but I do not know if I believe the whole sex thing based on the heart beat. It was so cool because the little one was moving all over the place, we even got another wave from the baby which is so cool, the baby was also sucking it's little thumb, SO CUTE!!!!
Here is a good shot of the baby while the heart beat is showing!
Good shot of the spine, lookin good to my untrained eyes!
Ok so this is taken from behind and from the side kinda. You can see the back and the head and in between the arrows is the little arm and it is bent toward the face, I think this was when it was sucking it's thumb, can you see it??? This is the 3D shot!
Ok so this is the arm and you can see the hand with the 5 little fingers, those little circles are the fingers!
Ok another 3D and this is of our little baby waving to you all!!! Can you see it's CUTE little face behind that hand? I am SO EXCITED!!!
SO here are some of the pictures I got, THANKS AGAIN AMY!!!

Before New Years....

I better post some Christmas Pictures!!!

I am sad because with my own camera I hardly took any pictures this Christmas, I think it is because I am always just so tired that I do not like the thought of standing up and using my camera, SAD I know, I am a wimp! But I will have to steal some pictures from my in laws and my parents because I know that they got some good ones. Here are some to capture the rest of the Christmas Season from my camera!
The weekend before Christmas Kip and I meet up with my sister and her family to have Christmas with my dad! We decided this year to go up to Jullian as a family. Jullian is a small little mountain town that holds so many memories for my sister, my dad, and I. We spent many a weekend hiking those mountains and eating at the Jullian Cafe'. We thought this year it would be fun to celebrate as a family there, and since there was a fresh snow storm the kiddo's could play in the snow for the first time. We had a great time and love all the fun Christmas memories we have with our dad!
Kipper and I bundled up in the COLD!
Dad, Amanda, Makenna, and Kellen!
Makenna discovers snow for the first time and makes snowballs and tosses them too and fro! SO CUTE!!
Kellen discovers snow for the first time and decides his tactic is to cuddle up to mommy real tight to stay warm. SMART MAN!
On Christmas Eve Kip and I got to spend the day and evening with his family. We are so blessed to be able to see both our sets of parents during the holidays. We had a BEAUTIFUL and YUMMY family dinner, opened presents as a family, started some new and very cool family traditions this year which we are all very excited about, and played a FUN game of Family Feud. We now own it and it is such a FUN party game so we need to have people over and play sometime. We love spending time with our families and we both feel so blessed to have 2 sets of families that are just amazing and that love us SO MUCH!
Look at this BEAUTIFUL dinner table!

Laurie, Gregg, & Hailee playing her new favorite game Ring Around The Rosie!
Kip & I opening presents at Kipper's parents house, so fun to spend that time together!

Christmas Eve Family Shot!
Echo and Daddy showing off their new trick "Give me Five!!"

Christmas Morning, can you tell we just woke up?
Echo checking out what Santa Brought for him in his stocking???
Candy Cane chew toys, a new CHAIN leash he can not chew through, a brush, and he even had more presents, SPOILED by Santa!!!
These are the only pictures I have from my parents house, sadly. We drove down to San Diego after opening our presents at home Christmas Morning, we were able to spend the whole day with them and we had a GREAT TIME! Mom made a yummy turkey dinner with ALL the fixinz, opening presents is always fun, we watched a movie Sweeney Todd (WOW), and played a TOTALLY FUNNY game!!! I have to get my hands on the pictures of that game!!! It was a great time with the fam!
All the nieces and nephew so far, I got one growin!!!

Happy Holidays!

We hope you all received one of our Christmas Cards but if you did not here it is!
Kip and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and we hope you have a FUN and Happy New Year!

This time of year...

I spend half my life running around like a chicken with it's head cut off, behind on the gift buying, wrapping, preparing Christmas cards, on top of working full time and being a (pregnant) wife. Wow, what a busy time of year!!!!
At the same time I LOVE this time of year, I love the spirit that is in the air! I love the fact that people generally are kinder and more giving, even more generous on their tips which is SO NICE!!! I love Christmas music, all the colors of Christmas, Santa Clause, thinking of others needs before your own, and most of all TRADITIONS with FAMILY!!!
I thought I would just throw in some of my Christmas pics that I have gotten the past few weeks and explain them when I get to them.
Here is our Christmas Tree and might I add our FIRST fake one and I have to say, I LOVE IT!!!

Our neighbors house is OUT OF CONTROL with the lights and I love it!!! They sure got into the Christmas spirit, I am glad I get to look at it and not have to pay the bill!
It's tradition for us "Carlson" girls to all get together every year and bake all day long to make up delicious plates of cookies for people. It is SO FUN but wow, a long day in the kitchen. I got there at 11:30am and they were already started and I do not think we finished till 10:30pm with only a lunch and dinner break. We made 15 different recipes and doubled most of them! I wish I had gotten a finished picture of all the cookies when we were done but of course I forgot, I think I was pretty much exhausted being in my first trimester of pregnancy and at that tired as heck stage. But here are some of the days events!






Me Pregnant & Barefoot in the Kitchen Baking while the boys are off Playing! Notice how tired and horrible I look in all these pictures? I do!
In the cold weather we have recently discovered that we have a "Blankey Boy" Mr. Echo drags his blankey up and down stairs when he travels, he sleeps with it on his bed and if we wrap him up in it before bed most of the time it is there just the same way in the morning, is that not SO FUNNY??? My DOG is a "Blankey Boy", it kills me!

Well if I do not have the chance to get on here again before Christmas I hope you all have a Very Merry Christmas!!! Make some good memories this 2008!!!

Its Time!!!

For Christmas Cards!!!!
If you would like a Christmas card from us please e-mail me ASAP at sarahlyn1040@yahoo.com! P.S. I LOVE getting Christmas Cards so if you want to send me one too you can request my address from me the same way, wink, wink!
Merry Christmas TO ALL!!!! And to all a GOOD NIGHT (I am SO TIRED)!!!

Itty Bitty One!!!

Well yesterday Kipper and I got to go and meet our little itty bitty one for the first time!! It was the COOLEST experience ever and I am so happy my wonderful hubby was there to share it with me! I do not know if I am strange or not but I was totally worried about how this first ultrasound would go, I was so afraid they would go to look and find nothing or find a little one but with no heartbeat. It was the most amazing thing to see the baby for the first time and really KNOW that it is in there and growing and doing well. Kipper spotted the heartbeat first, we did not hear it but we could see it, how amazing and SO FAST!! Our little one even gave us a wave at one point with it's little hand, it was so cool!!!
So far everything is measuring well, they set my due date at July 13th which is just 1 day later than I had thought. Kip & I actually LOVE the #13 so that works for us!
Here is our little one's first of MANY pictures to come in it's future! I would have to say, for it's age it is already a photogenic little one! I am SO PROUD to be it's mommy and it has the COOLEST daddy ever!
Meet Our Little "Grape" (they say that is about how big "it" is right now)!

Christmas TAG!!!

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your family and
friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a
SCROOGE!!! . Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then sen
this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent
it to you......Tis the Season to be NICE!


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper
2. Artificial or real tree? Real Tree...but this year we are going with a fake! I kinda am switching gears on this one! Fake is nice!
3. When do you put up a tree? Whenever we make the time, in December sometime, this year it is already up but not decorated!
4. When do you take it down? January sometime!
5. Do you like eggnog? Yeah, pretty much, mostly home made with vanilla ice cream in it!!!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I can not remember that far back??? A cat, that only lasted a few weeks but it was really exciting waking up to a kitty on my bed from Santa!!!
7. Hardest person to buy for? PARENTS!!! They can have anything they want and when they want it so they are the hardest for sure!!!
8. Easiest person to buy for? My Lovely Hubby, he has a wish list a mile long!! All expensive stuff though!
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yep, one my mommy bought for me when I got married!!
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, BY THE WAY, I want one from ALL YOU FRIENDS out there!!!!!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? OOOOO.... One year I got nothing from someone that for sure should have gotten me something, not even a jelly bean, I was SO SAD!!! It will never happen again though!!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I can't remember the name, but it is with a little girl, a snow globe, wishes, and Santa??? I think it is Miracle on 49th Street or something like that!
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Later than I should, in December, usually the endish!! OOps!! I am getting better!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so but cant promise anything on that one????
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas time? Christmas Cookies that my mommy makes!!! And Christmas Dinner!! O and my mother in laws carmel apples!!!
16. Lights on the tree? You know it, we have been using the white lights lately but I kinda want to do a little kid looking tree next year with the big ol bulbs on it and bubbly character ornaments. Since we will have a little one then. But this year and previous years it is a perdy and fancy tree!
17. Favorite Christmas song? DONNO??? Rudolph the Red Nose Raindeer
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel to my parents or his parents house, we trade off years. Once we have a baby we will do it here in the morning and then travel!!
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? I think so, YEP I CAN!!!! I can't write them though because then you will know them all!!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I like both but lately we have been doing a star because we can not find a cool angel, Both are cool though!
21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? One on Christmas Eve and the rest on Christmas morning!
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Not having enough $$$$ to buy everyone ALL the things I want to get them!!!
23. Favorite Ornament theme or color? ??? Last year I went almost with a Red, Silver, and Blue theme, the year before Red, and Gold, DONNO this year???? I like to change it up??
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? With Family, that is all that matters, my family is usually traditional and Kip's is usually not traditional and I love it both!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? New Running Shoes and this totally SWEET Point & Shoot Camera, my dream is a Nikon D300 or a Cannon D5 but that is IN MY DREAMS!!!!
26. Who is most likely to respond to this? Nice People
27. Who is least likely to respond to this? Naughty People

I tag anyone that wants to not be a SCROOGE!!! JK!!

The Passing of Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

I saw this post on a friend Emily Thomas's blog and had to copy it, the quotes she chose are so touching and I feel can truly influence some of my best friends, people in my ward, and in my family at this time! This is a beautiful post and a tribute to a wonderful man! (Hope you don't mind Emily)

The Newlyweds, Wedding day, 26 May 1941


Our Dear Apostle
I love this man and his many years of wise counsel and direction. To honor him I am posting some of my favorite parts of his last conference address. I hope it comforts you as well. In a way it is a happy day to know that he has now joined his wife on the other side.


Come What May, and Love It....
October 2008


Quotes That Touched My Heart
"I think she (his mother) may have meant that every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds don’t sing and bells don’t ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result."


"The next time you’re tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable."


"The second thing we can do is seek for the eternal. You may feel singled out when adversity enters your life. You shake your head and wonder, “Why me?” But the dial on the wheel of sorrow eventually points to each of us. At one time or another, everyone must experience sorrow. No one is exempt."


"Learning to endure times of disappointment, suffering, and sorrow is part of our on-the-job training. These experiences, while often difficult to bear at the time, are precisely the kinds of experiences that stretch our understanding, build our character, and increase our compassion for others."
"The third thing we can do is understand the principle of compensation. The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude."


"As we look for humor, seek for the eternal perspective, understand the principle of compensation, and draw near to our Heavenly Father, we can endure hardship and trial. We can say, as did my mother, “Come what may, and love it.” Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."


http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-947-9,00.html




A Part of His Testimony


“I wish I could engrave on every heart what I so keenly know and feel,” Elder Wirthlin said. “I bear unwavering testimony that our Heavenly Father and His divine Son, Jesus Christ, rule and reign, and that we must all understand that the gospel is everlasting. It is forever and applicable to all, and each of us is to be held accountable.”


http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/elder-joseph-b-wirthlin-a-life-full-of-adventure-and-joy-that-surpasses-understanding

Twilight Twice!!

So I went to see the Twilight movie TWICE!! Yup! Once on the opening night at midnight with Emily, Emily, Hannah, & Hailee. It was totally sweet, we went to the movie theatre at the Tyler Mall and did not have to wait in a line AT ALL!!! We got to go right in and sit down in the Theatre for a few hours till the movie started. We got good seats too! Fun times! We took a few pics before the movie started being the silly goof balls that we are!



Then the next night I got the privilege of going with my BFFE's Katie, Emily, & Megan! It was TOTALLY COOL!!! Katie had a friend that owned a movie theatre and that totally got us the hook up! First we meet at this totally sweet house and had a twilight party with blood punch, lots of food including Carmel apples (the apple on the front of the book) and lots of other fun yummies! We all got cool Twilight pins to wear mine says "Forget being a princess, I want to be a Vampire", Katie's was cool too hers says "I like COOL guys that Bite!" It was cool! We played a Twilight trivia game and then the top 3 winners of the trivia game went to Twilight Jeopardy, it was SO COOL to watch and I could not believe the details these girls knew, it was crazy!!! Totally entertaining and fun! Then off to the movie! We got in for $6- and got to get a drink and popcorn for $4- AMAZING!!! We also got to sit in VIP seats that were roped off from the rest of the crowd for us! O and we once again did not have to wait in line, we walked in front of all the lined up people and right into our VIP seats! SO COOL!!! Here are some pics from the night, most of them were taken on the way there in the drive thru line at In N Out! SO FUNNY!!!

Join Me?

So I was wondering if any of you local folk would like to join me Mon-Fri morning at 6am for a jog/walk? I need to go before work so that I actually get it in for the day because when I wait to go till later it always gets put off and never ends up happening. I would LOVE a running buddy, it makes running SO much more fun, and it just goes by so much faster! If any of you are interested I would be happy to go at your speed and your pace, I am prego so I am going to take it slightly easy!!! I know it is early but just think, by 7am you could have a guilt free day knowing that you already got in your work out for the day and you jump started your metabolism so you are going to be burning calories ALL DAY LONG!!! Doesn't that just sound wonderful? Please let me know! Thanks!

Turkey Day!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to All!!!
I hope you all had a Happy Turkey Day, Kip and I had a blast with Kip's family! We hosted Thanksgiving at our house but Kip's mom provided pretty much all the food. I know, I really know how to host a party don't I? I got to cook my very first Turkey (that was my one responsibility) and it actually turned out pretty good and moist. I was SO proud of myself, Kip and I officially feel like adults now, making turkeys and having Holidays at our place. We missed Kip's Brother Rick and hope he had a fun time with Aunt's, Uncles, Cousins, and Grandparents up in Utah for the Holidays.
One of these days we are going to host a Thanksgiving here with my whole fam and Kip's whole fam, it would be a blast, especially if the mom's bring all the food again, hehehe... just kidding!
Well dinner was AMAZING, I almost had a mishap with the turkey but thank goodness I saved it in time, I did the turkey in the bag but forgot to poke hols in the top of it...oops! About 2 hours into the cooking process I look in the oven and the bag looks like it is going to blow up? Thank goodness my mother in law called me just then and asked how the turkey was going, I told her it is good but that the bag looks like it might explode, that is when she reminded me about the holes I was supposed to poke, oops! I am glad we did not have a disaster!
At dinner we played a cool game where we went around the table and did different things like list 5 people we are thankful for, list why we are thankful for the people at the table, sing a song (well we kinda skipped that one) it was fun!
Well I hope you all had a great time thinking of all of the things you are thankful for and spending time with family! Happy Thanksgiving 1 day late!